"For real? Tom actually danced on a broomstick?"
"Of course it's real, I saw it with my own eyes! And later, he just laid flat on the handle! You should have seen it—he was rock steady!"
"That's impressive... Cedric, looks like our title of Hufflepuff's flying prodigy is changing hands?"
"Haha, isn't that a good thing? It means Hufflepuff has a worthy successor!"
Unlike usual, the Hufflepuff table was buzzing with excitement tonight because news of Tom's exploits in flying class had spread like wildfire.
Although the cat was known for causing a scene in classes, usually only Professor Binns was affected. But this was different!
Tom's "outrageous flying skills" weren't just good enough for the school Quidditch Cup; they would be considered top-tier even in professional leagues! Consequently, even the usually laid-back Badgers couldn't resist gathering in the Great Hall, excitedly showing off and boasting about their house's "legendary first-year."
Unfortunately, their enthusiasm was making life miserable for "Harry" and "Ronnie."
The two of them had originally thought the Hufflepuff table would be quieter and less conspicuous than Gryffindor's. But thanks to the badgers' hype, they had become the center of attention.
Coupled with Snape's bizarre behavior in Potions class and the Weasley twins spreading the news everywhere, more and more eyes were glued to them. It felt like sitting on pins and needles.
We shouldn't have come to dinner...
The thought surfaced in both their minds simultaneously. Missing one meal wouldn't kill them, so why did they insist on coming here?!
Luckily, Snape appeared just in time to save the day. "What are you all gawking at!"
His voice was as biting as a draft in the dungeons. "Keep your eyes on your plates and eat!"
As expected of Professor Snape, his presence was overwhelming. The moment he spoke, even the rowdiest Gryffindors obediently lowered their heads.
Although they still muttered under their breath, no one dared to openly stare at Harry and Ron anymore. As for Snape himself...
He actually wanted to steal a few more glances at Harry's face—identical to Lily's—but as soon as his gaze touched her, Ron came into view next to her.
Snape looked like he had swallowed a slug. His brow instantly furrowed into a tight knot. Since it wasn't Potions class, he had no excuse to deduct points from Gryffindor at will, so he could only suppress his irritation and force himself to look away.
Tom's unintentional fame had inadvertently bought the girls a peaceful dining environment. It even made Harry's opinion of Snape improve... just a tiny bit.
However, the peace didn't last long.
---
As dinner neared its end, Harry suddenly felt something was wrong. Her body was getting hot.
It wasn't the temperature of the room, but a burning sensation seeping out from her bones—just like when she had first drunk the potion that morning.
She looked at Ron beside her. Like herself, Ron's face was flushed red, looking like a ripe tomato.
The potion was wearing off.
If it were just a fever, that would be fine, but the bone-deep pain from the morning was beginning to return. Harry gritted her teeth; she didn't want to collapse here, in front of everyone.
"Tom... Hermione..."
She forced the words out, hoping they could help.
Tom noticed their condition immediately. To ensure they had a "good user experience" and to save them from public humiliation, he didn't hesitate. He grabbed one in each hand (or paw), dashed out of the Great Hall, and sprinted toward the nearest lavatory.
"Tom!"
Hermione, Hannah, and Ariana exchanged glances and hurriedly followed.
Snape, who had been monitoring the situation, started to stand up to follow but hesitated, then sat back down.
He knew exactly what was about to happen: the potion was wearing off, and the girls were about to turn back.
He didn't know how he would react to seeing James Potter's nauseating face again right now. To avoid losing control of his temper, he gripped his wand tightly inside his sleeve and chose to stay put.
However, besides Tom's group, another young wizard had noticed the anomaly. It was Draco, who had been secretly watching them the whole time.
"I'm heading back first. You guys catch up later!"
Dropping that line and ignoring Pansy's call, he quietly tailed them.
But even Snape couldn't have predicted what they were about to face.
Inside the first-floor lavatory, Harry and Ron, having been dragged there by Tom, were collapsed on the floor in pain. Their bodies were undergoing the reverse of the morning's transformation.
When the dust finally settled, other than their long hair which hadn't reverted, they were back to being Harry and Ron.
"Hiss—I didn't feel it when I was a girl, but now that I'm back, these clothes are strangling me! And it's drafty down there."
Ron grimaced, carefully peeling off the girl's uniform and complaining loudly.
If he didn't have to pay for it, he felt he could have ripped this wretched dress apart with barely any effort!
[Female skeletons are different from males, that's normal.]
Having left Hermione and the actual girls waiting outside, Tom handed over their wizard robes.
[Also, keep those dresses safe. Next time you drink the potion, I'm not providing free uniforms!]
He had hand-crafted those things. It wasn't difficult, but he didn't have the patience to keep making dresses for them!
"Who wants a next time?!"
Ron muttered, but then he remembered his twin brothers' earlier behavior. He hesitated, then obediently folded the uniform.
Harry did the same. Recalling the experience in Potions class today, he silently packed the clothes away.
There is a saying: Crossdressing happens either zero times, or infinite times. Having tasted the benefits of the potion, could they really refuse it next time?
Tom didn't know, but judging by Harry and Ron's reactions, there was a high probability they wouldn't say no.
"Are you two decent?"
Ariana's worried voice came from outside the door.
"Yeah, coming out now!"
Harry replied, hurriedly pulling on his robes.
But looking at the pile of women's clothing in his hands, he and Ron looked at Tom helplessly—what were they supposed to do with this stuff?
[Fine, fine, I got it!]
Tom made a gesture of surrender. He took the clothes and pulled out a handkerchief.
He folded the handkerchief into a small pouch, placed the two sets of clothes on top, and then—fold, squeeze, knead. After a dazzling display of dexterity, he actually managed to stuff both sets of clothes into the palm-sized pouch, leaving Harry and Ron dumbfounded.
[Just open the pouch when you need to take them out. Don't worry, the clothes inside won't wrinkle!]
Tom shook the pouch smugly. Tom-brand storage technology—you deserve the best.
Just as the two were about to say something, a terrified scream from Draco pierced the air from down the corridor:
"Potter! Weasley! Run! There's a troll coming!"